We start this week with women's soccer, a team that stands 11-1-2 entering the week, and a team that swept the three Liberty League weekly honors. The Co-Offensive Performer of the Week was sophomore forward Caitlin Cuozzo (Norfolk, MA/King Phillip Regional). She scored a pair of goals, including a game-winner, in six shots on goal while assisting on another game-winner. In the first game, Cuozzo assisted on Cassandra Mariani's (Boonton, NJ/Morris Catholic) first half goal in a 2-0 win at then-#23 ranked Skidmore. In the second game, she registered a pair of scores, giving her eight on the season, in a 3-0 home win over Hartwick.
“Caitlin moved from midfield to left forward this year,” said Head Coach Brian Speck. “She had to replace two-time All-American Brittany Cressman. Caitlin is really starting to grasp the position.”
Cuozzo is tied for fourth in the league with 20 points and she is fifth in goals.
She had plenty of company, as the Liberty League Co-Defensive Performer was Union goalkeeper Julie Gawronski (Dunkirk, NY/Dunkirk), and the Rookie of the Week was Sara Wilson (Wilbraham, MA/Minnechaug Regional).
Gawronski had six saves in two shutouts for the week. She made five stops to keep the league's second ranked offense quiet in the 2-0 win at Skidmore, then made one stop in the 3-0 win vs. Hartwick in posting her fourth shutout of the season. Wilson, a freshman who has moved into a new position in the backfield, helped anchor the defensive showing in the two shutouts while also posting two assists.
“Julie has been a rock for four years,” said Speck. “Our backs play with tremendous confidence knowing that Julie is behind them. With Linsey Capecelatro out with an injury, we put a freshman at center back. Sara, that freshman, plays like she has been there all year.”
The Dutchwomen head on the road for league games at Clarkson Friday and at St. Lawrence Saturday.
The Union field hockey team is right in the middle of the hunt for a Liberty League playoff berth, and they hope to trot, if not gallop, to the finish with the continued super play of junior Jessica Trotter (St. Louis, MO/John Burroughs). The forward is the Liberty League's Co-Offensive Performer of the Week after her hat trick in the 7-2 home win over Elmira. Her three goals gave her a total of 11 with 24 points entering this week.
“Jess has been instrumental for us all season on our offensive attack, whether she is on the ball or off the ball,” stated Head Coach Lacey French. “In the lead position, she is very smart with occupying defenders and creating scoring opportunities. She is extremely crafty in front of the goal, and always finds a way to get her stick on the ball and direct it towards the cage.”
Trotter and her friends are back in the saddle for key league home games Friday against Rensselaer at 4 and Saturday vs. Vassar at 11 a.m. in a game at College Park.
Two teams ready to trot again are Union's men's and women's cross country teams. The squads were idle last week, but they will be heading to the Saratoga Invitational at Saratoga State Park at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Union's women's tennis team, which did not qualify for the NYSWCAA Tournament last year, qualified on October 4 this year. And, they sure did make the most of it. Union had a very impressive fourth place finish (tied with Ithaca) with 20 points out of a tough field of 16 teams. And, Head Coach Bill Brahler can really thank freshman Brittany Miller (Scituate, MA/Scituate). In her first state tourney, she had a tremendous run, making it all the way to the finals in Fourth Singles, while winning the first set 6-4 before losing 7-5 and 6-3 to the #1 seed, Katy Robinette of Vassar. Miller won in three sets in the first round and then won in straight sets in the quarters. In the semis, she downed the #2 seed, Jenny Grabler of Skidmore, 2-6, 7-5 and 6-1. She now has seven singles wins.
“Brittany's determination and tenacity was on display at this tournament,” Brahler mentioned. “Being down 5-1 in the semis to the #2 seed, she found a way to hang in there and come back and take the set 7-5. She then finished the match after about 21/2 hours and was right back into it in the finals. This time her opponent, an exceptional senior at Vassar, needed over three hours to finally beat her 4-6,7-5,6-3.
“I can't describe the heart she displayed, she had to play so tough,” continued Brahler. “She did this not only physically, but mentally, wearing down her opponents and still being able to smile on the changeovers. She's great and earned the respect of everyone who was out there competing all weekend.”
It takes mental toughness to pull out a victory in the final seconds, and that is exactly what the Union football team did last week at Franklin & Marshall. Sophomore wide receiver Andrew Reigle (Dania, FL/St. Thomas) caught a 47-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Anthony Marotti (River Edge, NJ/River Dell) with 42 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to lift Union to a 14-10 non-league victory at Franklin & Marshall. The 6-0 Dutchmen, who have been on the road for four of the last five weeks, are anxious for Homecoming this weekend, as they host Coast Guard.
The defense did another super job, holding the Diplomats to just three second half points. Senior linebacker and co-captain Kevin Flike (Stillwater, NY/La Salle) helped lead the defensive unit with a team-high nine tackles, including four solo hits. Union held the hosts to just 124 rushing yards and 272 total yards.
“Kevin played a very solid game and had his best performance of the year, and maybe his career, Saturday,” said Head Coach John Audino. “He also excelled on special teams and had an outstanding effort all day long. Kevin has been a great leader on and off the field for us all year long and we look for him to improve week to week as he has done all season long.”
Running back Tom Arcidiacono (Castleton, NY/Columbia) was “held” to a season-low 104 yards rushing, but with his average of 191.8, he still leads all four NCAA divisions in rushing. He also is higher then both the NAIA and NFL rushing leaders, and needs just 137 yards this week to break the Union regular season rushing record. He has 1,151 rushing yards on the year.
Casey may not be at the bat, but he continues to be a hit on the Union soccer pitch this season. Sophomore forward Casey Ftorek (Bedford, MA/Taft School) scored two goals, both game-winners, as the Dutchmen improved to 11-2-1. In his first game of the week, the Liberty League Co-Offensive Performer of the Week scored the opening goal of a 9-0 victory over Elmira. He followed that up with the deciding goal in the 87th minute of a 2-1 league victory over Skidmore. Ftorek is second on the team and in the league with eight total goals and is tied for second in the Liberty League with 19 points.
“Casey continues to find the back of the net in big situations,” said Union's coach Jeff Guinn. “He has been a great addition to the team and gives our opponents fits with his work rate and athletic ability. He and Chris Poey have done a great job converting the chances that their teammates have created through our build up.”
In the backfield, Ryan McAleese (Walpole, MA/Walpole) was the Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week. He helped Union to limit the opponents to 11 combined shots on goal in the two victories. The senior also scored his second goal of the season in the league win against Skidmore that improved Union to a 5-0 league mark (two wins more then second place St. Lawrence). Union hosts the Saints Saturday at 2 p.m. after hosting Clarkson Friday at 4 p.m.
“I feel happy for Ryan,” said Guinn. “He has been one of the premier defenders in the league for three seasons. In addition to his organizational skills in the back, he is also a weapon on set pieces and scored a great goal against Skidmore.”
Union's volleyball squad posted the sixth win of the fall Saturday with a nice three-game sweep over Potsdam in the annual SUNY/Liberty League Challenge at Skidmore. Union won by scores of 30-26, 30-27, and 30-28, and was paced by the freshman playing in front of family and friends in her hometown, Erin Schumaker (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs). She had a team-high 11 kills in the victory. Danna DeBiasio (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) had 14 digs and Suzy Barbaritz (Clarence, NY/Clarence) dished out 32 assists. Union heads north again for the Skidmore Invitational Friday and Saturday.
